Watch: Dubai Airports launches ‘airside lounge’ for passengers? Another April Fool's Day prank?

Dubai: Forget crowded gates! Dubai Airports playfully announced a revolutionary new pre-boarding lounge experience allowing passengers to wait for their flights’ airside – literally metres away from the tarmac. At least, that seems to be the case based on videos shared on DXB’s various social media channels.

In a post on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), Dubai Airports teased the concept, stating, "Our all-new pre-boarding lounge experience is every #AVgeek and planespotter’s dream. Stay tuned"

The post suggested passengers could relax and watch the aircraft up close before boarding. However, given the date – April 1 – and the sheer novelty of the idea, it is highly probable that this announcement is an elaborate April Fool's Day prank.

The video shared by DXB depicted passengers and some airport staff enjoying the views of various aircraft moving around the tarmac while enjoying snacks.

The move echoes similar light-hearted gags often employed by Dubai-based aviation entities, such as Emirates, making it a likely attempt by DXB to join in on the April 1 fun and engage with their audience.

While the prospect of lounging on the tarmac might be appealing to aviation enthusiasts, passengers can likely expect to continue waiting for their flights within the confines of the airport terminal (for safety reasons, of course). That said, DXB has definitely upped the ante for April 1 gags.

DXB has been experiencing an exceptionally busy holiday surge these past few days. More than 3.6 million travellers are expected to pass through its terminals during the Eid travel peak from March 26 to April 7. The busiest day of the period is forecast for Saturday, April 5, when 309,000 passengers are expected.

Daily total traffic is set to average 276,000 fliers, with the sharpest rise projected in the first week of April. Departures during the Eid week are anticipated to surge by 19 per cent compared to average weekly volumes over the past month, reflecting a significant seasonal uplift. Amid this rush, it seems highly unlikely that the world’s busiest hub will launch an airside lounge for passengers.